SQA results day 2023

Pupils across Orkney are today (Tuesday 8 August) receiving their examination results from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Students who signed up for the SQA’s text or email results service should have received their results between 08:00 and 09:00 today, with results on paper delivered by First Class post throughout the day.

Within Orkney, the National 5 pass rate is 78.6%, and the Higher pass rate 77.7%. These are lower than the 2021-22 rate, but broadly in line with pre-covid rates.

The Advanced Higher pass rate was 76.9%, down on previous years. In addition, many young people completed courses at Orkney College, gaining level 5 and level 6 qualifications equivalent to National 5 and Higher. A more in-depth evaluation of results at school/college level is now underway and will be reported at a later date.

Gwenda Shearer, Orkney Islands Council’s Chair of the Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, said: “I wish to offer my congratulations to all those who received results today, for their commitment to their studies, and thank their families, teachers, lecturers and the wider school and college community who supported them.

“Here in Orkney our educators pay close attention to positive destinations – students who move on to careers, training, volunteering or further education – that is our ultimate goal: to ensure all our students are achieving a positive destination on their learning and life journeys.

“In 2022, 97% of pupils in Orkney moved on to a positive destination, which is 3.5% above the national rate and among one of the highest in Scotland. We believe that part of this is due to the council having a hand in education from nursery through to higher education, meaning educators can engage with young people early in their lives and follow them through their academic careers into adulthood.

“In a rapidly changing world, transferable skills such as problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking and resilience are as important as subject-related knowledge. Examinations assess a particular kind of skill, but there are many skills which are better suited to different methods of assessment.

“We welcome the Hayward Review, an extensive set of proposals for reshaping Scotland’s qualifications system, which includes the potential for a reduction in the number of national exams students must sit.

“Orkney’s educators will continually review and respond to the needs of our young people as they set out on their journeys to ensure they achieve positive destinations. This process is at the core of “The Orkney Offer” – which is to ensure all students have access to the right range of qualifications and have opportunities to develop skills to support them onwards.”

“Credit must also go to our Community Learning, Development and Employability (CLDE) team for building support programmes for students and families.

“Each term, the CLDE team meet with Orkney’s two large secondary schools, Kirkwall Grammar School and Stromness Academy, and with junior high schools on an as-needed basis to identify students in need of more support.

“This cooperation recently resulted in the development of an eight-week programme to support young people seen as at risk of not moving on to a positive destination after school. Through this course, young people can learn important lifeskills from finance to nutrition to hygiene.

“Meanwhile, partnerships with charities such as WhoCares Scotland, Orkney Blide Trust and Homestart help families prepare young people for work by identifying opportunities that might otherwise go unnoticed.

There is lots of support available to learners in understanding results and planning next steps.

If you think there is something wrong with a result, you may be able to appeal. Deadlines for making an appeal are:

• Tuesday 15 August for priority appeals (where you have a conditional offer for a university or college place dependent on the result)
• Tuesday 29 August for all other appeals

If you are reconsidering your next steps, whether that is a change of school course options, a different career path or college course, or needing help with UCAS clearing, there is help available from schools, Orkney College and SDS as follows:

Kirkwall Grammar School:

Mr Ewing (SQA Co-ordinator) will be available on 8, 9 and 10 August from 9am -1pm. Mrs Firth (Guidance Manager) and Mr Nisbet (Principal Teacher of Guidance) will be available form 9am-1pm on 8 August. Appointments to discuss course changes will take place with Guidance Teachers on the afternoon of Monday 21 August; to make an appointment please contact the school office.

Stromness Academy:

Mr Barber will be available on 8, 9 and 10 August from 9am -1pm. Mrs Johansen (Guidance Manager) will be available form 10am-1pm on 8 August. Appointments to discuss course changes will take place with Guidance Teachers on the afternoon of Monday 21 August; to make an appointment please contact the school office.

Sanday Community School

Mr McPhail will be available in school on 8 August for pupils and parents to drop in.

Stronsay Junior High School

Dr McLay is available on 8 August for pupils and parents by phone.

Westray Junior High School

Mr Ross will be available in school on 8 August for pupils and parents to drop in.

Orkney College:

Anyone wishing to enquire about Orkney College UHI courses can view options at Courses - Orkney College UHI, and can email Orkney.college@uhi.ac.uk, or telephone 01856 569000 with any queries.

Skills Development Scotland:

There is drop-in support from Careers Advisors on results day from 2-4pm in “The Hub” at 2 Albert Street. Orkney Careers Advisors can also be accessed by visiting the SDS Centre, 2 Albert Street or calling 872460 at any point, or you can call the Skills Development Scotland national helpline to speak to a qualified Careers Adviser on 0800 100 8000.